Retarding mechanism for elevators.



PATENTED MARJ24, 1908.

A. J. MYBR. RETARDING MECHANISM FOR ELEVATORS.

- APPLICATION FILED AUG. 9, 1905. RENEWED JUNE 10, 1907.

SSHBETS-SHEET 1.

N0. 882,577. PATENTED MAR. 24, 1908.

A. J. MYER.

RBTARDING MECHANISM FOR ELEVATORS.

APPLICATION FILED AUG. 9, 1905. RENEWED JUNE 10, 1907.

' 3 SHEETBflHEET 2.

, No. 882,577. PATENTED MAR. 24, 1908.

A. J. MYER.

RETARDING MECHANISM FOR ELEVATORS. APPLICATION FILED AUG. 9, 1905. RENEWED JUNE 10, 1907.

a SHEETS-SHEET a.

T T i E 3 r "T s a i a I l I I E i l i i l I i l i i mm;

UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

,METARDING MECHANISM FOR ELEVATORS.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented March 24, 1908.

Application filed August 9, 1905, Serial No. 273,435. Renewed June 10; 1907. Serin1 No. 378,285.

To all whom it may concern: I Be it known that I, ALBERT J. 'MYER, a citizen of the United states residing at Lake View, in the county of Erie and 'Stateof New York, "have invented a new and useful Improvement in Retarding Mechanism for Elevators, of which the following is a specification. i

invention relates to elevators and more particularly to means for regulating the speed of elevators and to safely arrest or stop t e elevator car should it accidentally fall. One of the objects of my invention has been to provide a simple device capable of being operated automatically by a when applied to an elevator car.

Im the accompanying drawings consisting of three sheets "which form a part of this liquid specification and in which like characters of reference indicate corresponding parts throughout the several figures: Figure 1 is a side elevation of an elevator car provided plan viewwith my invention. Fig. 2 is a top of thesame. Figs. 3, 4, 5, 6 an 7 are sectional views ofvarious forms of my cylindrical retarding mechanism. Fig; 8 is a top plan view of the means for supporting my 0 lindrical retarding mechanism. Fig. 9 is a slde elevation of the same.

In the drawings, 1 is an elevator car movable up anddown in a shaft on fixed vertical guides 2. On 0 posite sides of the elevator shaft there are a so provided inclined guide ways 3 and 4 which are inclined at any suitable angle to the vertical. In the accompanying drawings I have shown these guideways as converging toward the top of the shaft and diverging toward the bottom thereof, but it is evident that the reverse arrangement could be'also employed to effect the results accomplished by my invention.

At the top of the elevator car 1 brake beams 5 and 6 are pivotally anchored to stay rods 7 and 8 at-opposite sides of the car and these stay rods are suitably secured to the bottom of the said car. The pivot points 9 and 10 are preferably so positioned with reference to the guideways- 3 and 4 that the brake beams 5 and 6 will be approximately in a 1perpendicular position with reference to the 'p ane of the top of the car when the car is at the top of the elevator shaft and when the car is descending the said brake beams will tend constantly to spread apart. The said consist essentially of rods 11; which, as described, are pivotally secured at 9 and 10 to stay rods 7 and 8. Vertical supports 12 and at each end pivotally mounted rollers 16 and '17 which are adapted to travel in the two oppositely laced guideway's 3. At any convenient lace or'places on the rods 15,- 'I mount I11 cylindrical retarding mechanism 18. I-n ig. 2 I show two such retarding that one or more of the same could be thus mounted depending on the size of the cylindersus'ed and the brake ower-desired. The

17 are adapted to travel, may be made of two plates with an intervening space or of a single grooved plate. In either case however, they are so constructed that the rollers are free to travel in the groove of the guideways.

The cylindrical retarding mechanisms may be of various different constructions. Thus in Fig. 4 I have shown a retarding mechanism p ovided with piston-heads 48,

These piston heads are mounted on the rods 19 which are adapted to move back .and forth through the stuffing boxes 20. The c linder 21 is rovided with an inlet 22 t rough which t e liquid used therein is introduced. When the cylinder 21 is filled With a liquid it "will be evident that the speed of travel of the piston-heads 48 will be roportionate (1) to the space between tie circumferences of the iston-heads and the cylinder walls, and (2 to the inertia of the li uid used. l v

n Fig. 5 is represented a retarding mechanism aving piston-heads 23 which fit snugly in the cylinder 21 but are provided with perforations 24. In other respects this construction is like that shown inFig. 4. Manifestly when the cylinder 21 is filled with a li uid the speed of travel of the pistonhears 23 will depend (1) on the size of the perforations 24 and (2) on .the inertia of the i uid used.

n Fig. 6 solid piston-heads 25 fit closely in the cylinder 26. The upper wall of the cylinder 26 is provided with a passage 27 brake beams are rectaiigular in shape and f 13 are rigidly secured to the rods 11 and. these support the rods 15. The rods 15 carry guideways 3 and 4 in which the rollers 16 and mechanisms thus mounted but it is evident which do not fit tight in the cylinder 21.

through was. the 'liquid is ca able of How} from either end of the cylinder 26'. Connectingthe passage 27 with the center of the. cylinder. 26 is another passage 28 which is governed b a valve 29. Through the passage 28 the iquid may be introduced into the cylinder at 30 and the same may be closed on the outside by any suitable means. In this way28' checl; valve 32 adapted to close when there construction, the speed of travel of the piston-heads willbe governed (1) by the size.

of the passageways 27 andv 28,- (2) by the inertia of the liqu d used and (3)Lbythe po-' sition oithe valve 29.: If the-valve"29 is so turned as to closethe passagewaye 28cbvia ously no liquid can pass through either of the: assagleways and the piston-heads25 willhe mug t to-a stop.

Fig. 3 re resents a construction identical, with that s own in Fig. 7' exce t that the rods 33 are rovided with cone ustums 34' which are a a ted to engage in the openings 35 in the diap agms 36. These cone frus-f turns are ,of. such a size that when seated;

they will closely fit the openings 35.. and from that size the 'taper tothe diameter'of the rod In this construction the speed of travel of the piston-heads 25i depends on (1) thesize of the o ening 35 in the diaphragm 36,. (2) the size 0 the assa' eway 27 and (3) s the inertiaof the liq-ui usec Moreover it is evident that the speed of traveiofflsaid pis-.

ton-heads"will be decreased as soon asthe cone frustums enter the openin s 35 and that their travel will stop when sai frustums are fully seated in said openings;

In Fig. 2- I have shown my retarding meche anisms mounted on the brake beams and szipported-entirely thereon by the -rod s37.i

ile the construction therein illustrated is practical, a preferable construction "isshown m Figs. 8 and 9. In the lastmentioned fig ures, 38 is a table which carries my retarding mechanism 18 and which is adapted tomove up and down the guiding supportslO which are suitably secured to thetops of the eleva-- Each of the supportsO at its upper end has pivotally mounted onit a tor cars.

grooved wheel 41 over which a rope or chain 42 is adapted to travel. One end ofsaid rope or chain is secured at43 to the table 38 and to theother end is secured a weight 44. The weights 44 are so proportioned that they will just balancethe table 38 and the retard- The valve 29 of the cylinder 26 is provided with an arm 1 ing mechanisms carried thereon.

Fig.7 illustrates a construction in. every quantity of liquid and theidpassage-i the cylinders 118.

seat??? 45 which is placed incontact with a vertical rod 46 secured" in any suitable way to the v table 38. On; the to.p of the elevator car I provide a stop 47xa'gainst which the ro'd ltl;

1s adapted to'strike when the table38 is sufiilcientlyflowered. I -When the rod 46- does strike the stop 47 the arm'45'1will be so.

thrown that it close" the .valve .29 and thus. prevent.v further travel of-gthe'pistonheadsf25;

Having thus described the several parts of" my invention, T will now-describe its method of operation. 'l/Vhenever. the elevator car moves the friction ro1lers,.16. and, 17 will travel in the inclined guideways 3:-and...4and

cause the rods 19 of'myre'tardin'g mechanisms 'to drive back and} forth in regular strokes the piston-heads of the cylinders.

As heretofore explained the speed of travel of the piston-heads of whatever construction they may .be as hereindllustrated will depend on the passageway-allowed forthe-pas sage of'the liquid and'the inertia of'the liqui The maximum speedofthe car therefore will de end on the'size of the passageway allows for the travel of the liquid used. in the cylinders so that as long as-the predetermined maximum speed of, the ear is not exceeded, the friction ofthe rods 16 and 17- on the'wallsof the guideways 3 and l will not retard the motion of thecar. But if the predetermined maximum limit of speed of the car is reached or attempted to be passed, the inertia of the liquid in. passing through the space allowed, for it will so retard the movement of the piston-heads as to cause the rollers lo 'and 17" toYbind against the gui'd'eways 3 and 4 with so much force that the movement ofthe. car-will be retarded. Againpifi the car is cut loose fronfits cable and-allowed to fall, the speed of the car will belimited by the inertia of the fluid and the size-of the passageway allowed for it. Thus it will'lbe noted that my retarding mechanism-is continually in operation when the eloyator'is moved and acts to govern the speed. 7:

of the'elevator'at all times, thus very lessening the possibility of; accidents.

r .It is obvious that as th car moves downwardly the brake beams 5 and 6 will be thrown outwardly and will carry with them the rods 37'which move the piston -heads in This movement of the brake beams will depend on the friction causedby the friction rollers 16 and 17: traveling in the inclined guideways 3 and e and it is apparent that with the construction shown'inFigs. 8 and 9 the elevator car will be brought to a stop when the rod 46 comes in contact with the stop 47 and causes the arm 45 ot the valve 29 to move so as to close the valve and thus prevent further movement of the liquid in the c linders. This movement of. the rod 46 wil obviously degreatly pend on the'position of the brake beams and 6 which position as heretofore shown,

, controls the position of the table 38 which is means which are adapted to travel in said inclined guideways and are carried by said pivotally mounted means, and means, supported by said pivotally mounted'means, for governing the said friction producing means.

2. A retarding mechanism for an elevatorcar comprising brake beams pivotally mounted to said car, rollers pivotally mounted on said brake beams, inclined guideways in which said rollers are adapted to travel, a

fluid governed cylinder supported by said brake beams, piston-heads in said cylinder, means connecting said piston-heads with said brake beams and means for governing the speed of travel of said piston-heads.

3. A retarding mechanism for an elevator car comprising pivotally mounted brake beams secured tothe car, inclined guideways secured to the elevator shaft, friction producingmeans carried by said brake beams and adapted to travel in said inclined guideways, a fluid containin cylinder, pistonheads adapted to travel in said cylinder, means for governing the speed of travel of said piston-heads in said cylinder and means for connecting said piston-heads with said brake beams.

4. A retarding mechanism for an elevator car comprising pivotally mounted brake beams secured to the car, inclined guideways secured to the elevator-shaft, friction .producing means carriedby said brake beams and adapted to travel in said inclined guideways, a fluid containing cylinder, pistonheads closely fitting said cylinder and adapted to travel therein and means for connecting said piston-heads with said brake beams.

5. A retarding mechanism for an elevator car comprising pivotally mounted brake beams secured to the car, inclined guideways secured to the elevator shaft, friction producing means carried by said brake beams and adapted to travel in said inclined guideways, a fluid containing cylinder, pistonheads closely fitting said cylinder and adapted to travel therein, valve controlled means for allowingthe passage of fluid in said cylinder from the ends to the center thereof or,

oppositely as the .said piston-heads move back and forth therein and means for connecting said piston-heads with said brake beams.

6. A retarding mechanism for an elevator car comprising pivotally mounted brake beams secured to the car, inclined guideways secured to the elevator shaft, friction producing means carried by said brake beams and adapted to travel in said inclined guideways, a fluid containnig cylinder, pisto'nheads closely fitting said cylinderand adapted to travel therein, valve controlled means for allowing the passage of fluid in said cylinder from the ends to the center thereof or oppositely as the said piston-heads move back and forth therein, a reservoir secured to the said cylinder, a check valve for preventing the fluid from traveling from said cylinder to said reservoir and means for connecting said'p'iston-heads with said brake beams.

7. A retarding mechanism for an elevator car comprising pivotally mounted brake beams secured to the car, inclined guideways secured to the elevator shaft, friction producing means carried by said brake beams and adapted to travel in said inclined guideways, a fluid containing cylinder, pistonheads closely fitting said cylinder and adapted to travel therein, fixed diaphragms provided with vents and located between said piston-heads and the ends of said cylinder, cone frustums mounted on piston rods and adapted to be seated in the vents on said fixed diaphragms, valve controlled means for allowing the passage of fluid in said cylinder from the ends to the center thereof or oppositely as the said piston-heads travel back and forth therein, and piston rods connecting the said movable rods with said brake beams. I

8. A retarding mechanism for an elevator car comprising pivotally mounted brake beams secured to the car, inclined guideways secured to the elevator shaft, friction producin means carried by said'brake beams and adapted to travel in said inclined guideways, a fluid containing cylinder, piston heads adapted to travel in said cylinder, means for governing the speed of said pistoIL heads in said cylinder, piston rods connectin said piston-heads with said brake beams an means secured to the elevator car adapted to travel in consonance with the travel "of,

said last mentioned means for controlling the passa e of the liquid therethro'ugh, pissubscribed my paims-in the pissence oi two ton-rods or connecting Siid piston heads Witnesses.

with said brake beams an a valvs'g'overning means for'closing said valvesifa's said ALBERT MYER" 5 brake beamsreachthe limit of their outward Witnesss: travel. I f Y GEORGE S PEARSE, I

In testimony wheif'eof, I' have hereunto i ETHEL A. KELLY 

